Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 222
Sourceनारद उवाच- आकर्णय शिबे राजन्वर्णयामि तवाग्रतः । पुण्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं काश्या माहात्म्यमुत्तमम् १। इंद्रप्रस्थतटस्थायां काश्यामेकस्तु पादपः । शिंशपाख्योभवेद्राजन् पुरा पुण्ययुगे कृते २। तत्रैको वायसो ह्यासीत्कृतनीडो वनस्पतौ । तस्याधस्तान्महासर्पं कोटरेव सति स्म ह ३। एकदा तस्य काकस्य भार्यांडद्वयमालये । प्रतिमुच्य गता क्वापि न नीडे स्वे समागता ४। स्वयमेव स काकस्तु पालयन्नंडकद्वयम् । तामेव शिंशपामुच्चैरध्यतिष्ठन्महीपते ५। अथैकदा निशीधे तु महावात्या समागता । अभनक्शिंशपां राजन्मूलादपि दृढादपि ६। वात्यया पात्यमानाया शिंशपायास्तदा तले । चूर्णितौ काकसर्पौ तौ गतप्राणौ बभूवतुः ७। दिव्यांगास्ते त्रयो भूत्वा शिंशपा वायसादयः । विमानत्रयमारूढा जग्मुः श्रीपतिकेतनम् ८। शिबिरुवाच- देवर्षे केन पुण्येन प्राप्ता तैर्मुक्तिदा पुरी । आसंस्ते के त्रयः पूर्वं सर्वं कथय नारद ९। नारद उवाच-। कुरुजांगलदेशीयो ब्राह्मणः श्रवणाभिधः । तस्य भार्या कुडा नाम भ्राताभूच्च कुरंटकः १०। अस्नातभोक्ता नित्यं स कवलो मिष्टभुग्रहः । श्रवणस्तेन दोषेण बभूव ग्रामवायसः ११। कुरंटकस्तु तद्भ्राता नास्तिकोऽभवदुल्बणः । श्रुतिस्मृतिपथोच्छेत्ता देवतानां च निंदकः १२। तेन दोषेण स मृतो ह्यभवत्कालकुंडली । सा कुंडा श्रवणस्य स्त्री बभूवोभयदोषभाक् १३। अतः सा स्थावरत्वं हि लब्ध्वासीदुभयाश्रया । एतत्ते कथितं भूप तद्वृत्तं पूर्वजन्मनि १४। अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि तेषां पुण्यं यतस्त्रयः । प्रापुस्तेन पुरीं रम्यां काशीं वैश्वेश्वरीं नृप १५। ग्रामांतरादेकदा तौ प्रत्यायातौ निजालयम् । कस्यचित्पथिकस्याथ कूपमग्नां पयस्विनीम् १६। अवलोक्य तदुद्धारं चक्रतुस्तेन नोदितौ । ताभ्यांगदितमाकर्ण्य कुंडा साध्वित्यभाषत १७। ते त्रयस्तेनपुण्येन मरणं प्राप्य दुर्लभम् । इंद्रप्रस्थतटस्थायां काश्यां वैकुंठमारुहन् १८। इयं काशी महेशस्य पुरी यद्यपि भूपते । तथाप्यस्यां मृतं जंतुर्वैकुंठे स्यात्सुखी हरेः १९। एतत्ते कथितं राजन्काश्या माहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छा ते विद्यते तद्वदस्व मे २०। शिबिरुवाच- मुने त्वया महेशस्य क्षेत्रत्रयमुदीरितम् । काशी च शिवकांची च गोकर्णं च तथापरम् २१। एकस्य महिमा प्रोक्तो त्वया काश्या महामुने । गोकर्णशिवकांच्योश्च कथ्यतां यदि विद्यते २२। नारद उवाच-। गोकर्णं केवलं शैवं क्षेत्रं परमपावनम् । तस्मिन्मृतो नरो राजन्शिवः स्यान्नात्र संशयः २३। स्थले जलेंतरिक्षे च जंतुस्तत्र मृयेत चेत् । तदा कैलासशिखरो शिवः संभूय दीव्यति २४। अत्र गोकर्णतीर्थे स्यान्मृतस्य न पुनर्भवः । शिवेन स समं राजन्मुक्तिं यास्यति कर्हिचित् २५। अस्यापि तव माहात्म्यं गोकर्णस्य महामते । वर्णयामि यदाकर्णि मया ब्रह्ममुखात्प्रभो २६। प्रयागादेकगव्यूतौ गुरुतीर्थसमीपगः । मर्यादापर्वतो योऽयं दृश्यते पुण्यदर्शनः २७। तत्रैकः कर्कटो नाम भिल्ल आसीत्सुदारुणः । तस्य भार्या जरा नाम सा जघ्ने पतिपंचकम् २८। सा जरा विषसंयुक्तं षष्ठं कर्कटकं तदा । अकरोन्मोदकं हंतुं तदा तेन स्वसुः श्रुतम् २९। निजाया मुखतो राजन्भिल्लेन च महात्मना । बालां तां हंतुमारेभे कर्कटो भृशदारुणः ३०। खङ्गपाणिर्यदा याति तद्वधाय स भिल्लपः । यावत्तावत्तु सा यायाज्ज्ञात्वा निजवधोद्यमम् ३१। वनमभ्यद्रवद्भीता निजप्राणपरीप्सया । तामनुद्रवता तेन कर्कटेन महीपते ३२। अत्र गोकर्णतीर्थे तु गृहीता खङ्गपाणिना । शिरश्छित्वा तु खङ्गेन पातयित्वा जले वपुः ३३। तस्य गोकर्णतीर्थस्य निजस्थानमगाच्च सः । सा जरा तत्र गोकर्णे पापापि निधनं गता ३४। कैलासशिखरे राजन्पार्वत्या अभवत्सखी । अहं कथितवानेतत्तव गोकर्णवैभवम् ३५। शिवकांच्याश्च माहात्म्यं पवित्रं वर्णयामि ते । इंद्रप्रस्थतटस्थायां शिवकांच्यामपि प्रभो ३६। गतिः सा परमा पुंसां गोकर्णे या मयोदिता । अत्र श्रीमन्महादेवो विष्णुं सर्वसुरेश्वरम् ३७। आराध्य भक्तराजत्वं लेभे ज्ञानं च तात्विकम् । अतः सर्वे वयं पुत्रा ब्रह्मणस्तं महेश्वरम् ३८। आराधयामः सततं सद्भक्तिज्ञानलिप्सया । अत्र बाणासुरो राजन्नारराध महेश्वरम् ३९। निराहारो वर्षशतं तद्गुणत्वबुभूषया । तस्मै प्रसन्नो भगवान्गणत्वं दत्तवान्निजम् ४०। स्वयं च सर्वदा तस्य पुरपालो बभूवह । इयं पुरी पुरा राजन्नासीद्विष्णोर्महात्मनः ४१। दत्ता शिवाय तुष्टेन तपसा तस्य विष्णुना । अस्यामेकं पुरावृत्तं महदाश्चर्यकारकम् ४२। विप्रस्य शिवभक्तस्य वैकुंठाप्तिर्यथाभवत् । एकस्तु ब्राह्मणो राजन् हेरंबो नाम धार्मिकः ४३। कायेन मनसा वाचा शिवपूजारतः सदा । एकदा स महाभागः शिवतीर्थानि पर्यटन् ४४। शिवभक्तः शिवे राजन्शिवकांच्यामिहागतः । एनां मनोहरां चैव न तत्याज स बुद्धिमान् ४५। पश्चात्तत्रैव तत्याज प्राणानस्या जलांतरे । तत्रैव श्रीमहादेवगणास्तं ब्राह्मणोत्तमम् ४६। नीत्वा कैलासमचलं चेलुस्तदनुशासनात् । अथ मध्ये समायाता गणा वैकुंठतो हरेः ४७। तेभ्यो बलात्समादातुं तं द्विजश्रेष्ठमुद्यताः । आसीत्तेषां महयुद्धं गणानां हरिशर्वयोः ४८। तत्र युद्धेन वैकेषां विजयो न पराजयः । तत्र वैकुंठतो विष्णुरागतो गरुडासनः ४९। कैलासाद्वृषभारूढो महेशश्च त्रिलोकधृक् । तावन्योन्यं मुखं दृष्ट्वा विहस्य जगदीश्वरौ ५०। पश्यतस्म महद्युद्धं नभस्येव गणैः कृतम् । अथ स्वीयान्गणान्विष्णुः शैवांश्च दिवि युद्धतः ५१। निवार्य तं द्विजं तार्क्ष्यमारोप्यागाच्छिवालयम् । शिवेन तद्गणैश्चापि स्वकीयैरपि माधवः ५२। वृतो गछन्पथि श्रीमान्स्तुतस्त्रिदशवंदितः । गत्वा विवेश तं चागं महादेवपुरःसरः ५३। तस्मै द्विजाय वै तस्य दर्शयन्रमणीयताम् । अथ तस्मात्तु कैलासान्महादेवेन वंदितः ५४। माधवः परया भक्त्या वैकुंठमगमत्तदा । द्विजः सोऽपि महाभागस्तीर्थस्यास्य प्रसादतः ५५। गोविंददर्शनं प्राप्य मुमुदे हरसन्निधौ । एतत्ते कथितं राजन्शिवकांच्यास्तु वैभवम् ५६। तीर्थसप्तकनाम्नस्तु शृणुष्व सुसमाहितः । तीर्थमेतन्महाराज चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदम् ५७। दर्शनात्स्पर्शनाद्ध्यानात्स्मरणादपि भूपते । वसिष्ठादिभिरेतस्मिन्महर्षिभिरनुष्ठितम् ५८। महत्तपस्तु सृष्ट्यर्थं तत्रासंस्तु क्षमा नृप । मरीचिरपि धर्मात्मा पुत्रार्थं स्नानमाचरन् ५९। अत्र लेभे महाभागः कश्यपं सुतमुत्तमम् । अत्रिरत्रापि तपसा तोषयद्देवपुंगवान् ६०। सोमं दुर्वाससं दत्तं तेभ्यो लेभे सुतत्रयम् । अंगिरा अपि धर्मात्मा तीर्थस्यास्य प्रसादतः ६१। लेभे सुतांस्तुतद्वंश्या जाता आंगिरसा द्विजाः । पुलहोऽपि सुतं लेभे दंभोलि गुणवत्तरम् ६२। योऽगस्त्योभूत्पुरा राजंस्तीर्थेऽत्रैव निमज्जनात् । पुलस्त्यस्यात्र तीर्थे वै पुत्रो लब्धो तपस्यतः ६३। कुबेरोभून्महाभागो यः सखासीदुमापतेः । क्रतोरपि सुता जाता वालखिल्याः सहस्रशः ६४। तीर्थस्यास्य प्रसादेन ते सर्वे ह्यूर्ध्वरेतसः । रजआदीन्सुताँ लेभे वसिष्ठोऽपि महातपाः ६५। सप्तैव राजशार्दूल महिमा तस्य वर्णितः । अन्यान्यपि च तीर्थानि संत्यनेकानि भूपते ६६। कपिलाश्रमकेदारप्रभासादीनि वै प्रभौ । नियुतैरपि वर्षाणां तेषां च महिमा नृप । अनंतेनापि नो वक्तुं शक्यते किमु मादृशैः ६७। सौभरिरुवाच- एवमुक्त्वा मुनिश्रेष्ठो नारदो मुनिपुंगवः । शिवं जगाम नभसो नारायणगुणान्गृणन् ६८। शिबिरौशीनरो राजा शक्रप्रस्थस्य वैभवम् । श्रुत्वा मुनिमुखाद्राजन्कृतार्थं स्वममन्यत ६९। तत्र स्नात्वा हि विधिवदिंद्रप्रस्थे स भूपतिः । विधाय सत्क्रियाः सर्वा जगाम निजपत्तनम् ७०। इंद्रप्रस्थस्य माहात्म्यमेतत्तव मया विभो । यमुनातीरतीर्थस्य वर्णितं जनपावनम् ७१। नास्यादरं करिष्यंति कलौ श्रद्धाविवर्जिताः । इंद्रप्रस्थस्य राजेंद्र सर्वतीर्थशिरोमणेः ७२। अष्टादशपुराणानां श्रवणाद्भारतस्य च । यत्फलं तन्महिम्नस्य शक्रप्रस्थस्य जायते ७३। अरुणोदयवेलायां माघलक्षैकमज्जनात् । यत्फलं तन्महिम्नोस्य श्रवणाच्छ्रद्धया भवेत् ७४। श्रद्धयास्य तु माहात्म्यं यः शृणोति महीपते । तर्पितास्तेन पितरो देवाश्च मुनयस्तथा ७५। कृच्छ्रातिकृच्छ्रपाराक चांद्रायण व्रतादिभिः । यत्फलं तन्महिम्नोऽस्य श्रद्धया श्रवणाद्भवेत् ७६। अश्वमेधादियज्ञानां समस्तानां महीपते । यत्फलं तन्महिम्नोऽस्य श्रद्धया श्रवणाद्भवेत् ७७। सूत उवाच- एवं युधिष्ठिरो राजा श्रुत्वा शौनक सौभरेः । इंद्रप्रस्थस्य माहात्म्यं स ययौ हस्तिनं पुरम् ७८। ततो विनीय सद्भ्रातॄन्दुर्योधनपुरःसरान् । इंद्रप्रस्थमगात्पुण्यं राजसूयचिकीर्षया ७९। द्वारकायाः समागम्य गोविंदं कुलदैवतम् । राजसूयेन यज्ञेन स इयाज महीपतिः ८०। मुक्तिदं तीर्थमेतत्तु शपतोस्याप्यजायत । इति मत्वा हरिस्तत्र शिशुपालं जघान ह ८१। शिशुपालोऽपि तस्यैव तीर्थस्य मरणाद्भुवि । सायुज्यमगमत्कृष्णे निखिलार्थप्रदायके ८२। शिशुपालो हतो यत्र विहितो यत्र चक्रतुः । गदया तत्र भीमेन कृतं कुंडं सुविस्तरम् ८३। भीमकुंडं तु विज्ञातं जातं तद्भुविपावनम् । कालिंद्या दक्षिणे भागे गव्यूत्यर्धं महीतले ८४। इंद्रप्रस्थगताया यत्कालिंद्याः स्नानतः फलम् । तत्फलं तत्र कुंडे तु जायते नात्र संशयः ८५। सूत उवाच- यस्मिन्क्षेत्रे स्थितो जंतुस्तं क्षेत्रमनुवत्सरम् । प्रदक्षिणादिभिर्धर्मैः स्वापराधान्क्षमापयतेत् ८६। प्रतिसंवत्सरं चैव परिक्रामति यो नरः । क्षेत्रापराधदोषैश्च न स लिप्येत्तु पातकैः ८७। प्रदक्षिणमकुर्वाणः क्षेत्रसिद्धिं न विंदति । तस्मात्प्रदक्षिणा तीर्थे दातव्या च फलार्थिभिः ८८। हरेर्नाम निसंजल्पन्प्रकरोति प्रदक्षिणाम् । पदेपदे स लभते कपिलादानजं फलम् ८९। चैत्रकृष्णचतुर्दश्यां शक्रप्रस्थप्रदक्षिणाम् । यः करोति नरो धन्यः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ९०। इति श्रीपाद्मेमहापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायामुत्तरखंडे कालिंदीमाहात्म्ये इंद्रप्रस्थगत काशीगोकर्णशिवकांचीतीर्थसप्तक भीमकुंडवर्णनोनाम द्वाविंशत्यधिकद्विशततमोऽध्यायः २२२ ।
nārada uvāca- ākarṇaya śibe rājanvarṇayāmi tavāgrataḥ | puṇyaṃ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṃ kāśyā māhātmyamuttamam 1| iṃdraprasthataṭasthāyāṃ kāśyāmekastu pādapaḥ | śiṃśapākhyobhavedrājan purā puṇyayuge kṛte 2| tatraiko vāyaso hyāsītkṛtanīḍo vanaspatau | tasyādhastānmahāsarpaṃ koṭareva sati sma ha 3| ekadā tasya kākasya bhāryāṃḍadvayamālaye | pratimucya gatā kvāpi na nīḍe sve samāgatā 4| svayameva sa kākastu pālayannaṃḍakadvayam | tāmeva śiṃśapāmuccairadhyatiṣṭhanmahīpate 5| athaikadā niśīdhe tu mahāvātyā samāgatā | abhanakśiṃśapāṃ rājanmūlādapi dṛḍhādapi 6| vātyayā pātyamānāyā śiṃśapāyāstadā tale | cūrṇitau kākasarpau tau gataprāṇau babhūvatuḥ 7| divyāṃgāste trayo bhūtvā śiṃśapā vāyasādayaḥ | vimānatrayamārūḍhā jagmuḥ śrīpatiketanam 8| śibiruvāca- devarṣe kena puṇyena prāptā tairmuktidā purī | āsaṃste ke trayaḥ pūrvaṃ sarvaṃ kathaya nārada 9| nārada uvāca-| kurujāṃgaladeśīyo brāhmaṇaḥ śravaṇābhidhaḥ | tasya bhāryā kuḍā nāma bhrātābhūcca kuraṃṭakaḥ 10| asnātabhoktā nityaṃ sa kavalo miṣṭabhugrahaḥ | śravaṇastena doṣeṇa babhūva grāmavāyasaḥ 11| kuraṃṭakastu tadbhrātā nāstiko'bhavadulbaṇaḥ | śrutismṛtipathocchettā devatānāṃ ca niṃdakaḥ 12| tena doṣeṇa sa mṛto hyabhavatkālakuṃḍalī | sā kuṃḍā śravaṇasya strī babhūvobhayadoṣabhāk 13| ataḥ sā sthāvaratvaṃ hi labdhvāsīdubhayāśrayā | etatte kathitaṃ bhūpa tadvṛttaṃ pūrvajanmani 14| ataḥ paraṃ pravakṣyāmi teṣāṃ puṇyaṃ yatastrayaḥ | prāpustena purīṃ ramyāṃ kāśīṃ vaiśveśvarīṃ nṛpa 15| grāmāṃtarādekadā tau pratyāyātau nijālayam | kasyacitpathikasyātha kūpamagnāṃ payasvinīm 16| avalokya taduddhāraṃ cakratustena noditau | tābhyāṃgaditamākarṇya kuṃḍā sādhvityabhāṣata 17| te trayastenapuṇyena maraṇaṃ prāpya durlabham | iṃdraprasthataṭasthāyāṃ kāśyāṃ vaikuṃṭhamāruhan 18| iyaṃ kāśī maheśasya purī yadyapi bhūpate | tathāpyasyāṃ mṛtaṃ jaṃturvaikuṃṭhe syātsukhī hareḥ 19| etatte kathitaṃ rājankāśyā māhātmyamuttamam | kimanyacchrotumicchā te vidyate tadvadasva me 20| śibiruvāca- mune tvayā maheśasya kṣetratrayamudīritam | kāśī ca śivakāṃcī ca gokarṇaṃ ca tathāparam 21| ekasya mahimā prokto tvayā kāśyā mahāmune | gokarṇaśivakāṃcyośca kathyatāṃ yadi vidyate 22| nārada uvāca-| gokarṇaṃ kevalaṃ śaivaṃ kṣetraṃ paramapāvanam | tasminmṛto naro rājanśivaḥ syānnātra saṃśayaḥ 23| sthale jaleṃtarikṣe ca jaṃtustatra mṛyeta cet | tadā kailāsaśikharo śivaḥ saṃbhūya dīvyati 24| atra gokarṇatīrthe syānmṛtasya na punarbhavaḥ | śivena sa samaṃ rājanmuktiṃ yāsyati karhicit 25| asyāpi tava māhātmyaṃ gokarṇasya mahāmate | varṇayāmi yadākarṇi mayā brahmamukhātprabho 26| prayāgādekagavyūtau gurutīrthasamīpagaḥ | maryādāparvato yo'yaṃ dṛśyate puṇyadarśanaḥ 27| tatraikaḥ karkaṭo nāma bhilla āsītsudāruṇaḥ | tasya bhāryā jarā nāma sā jaghne patipaṃcakam 28| sā jarā viṣasaṃyuktaṃ ṣaṣṭhaṃ karkaṭakaṃ tadā | akaronmodakaṃ haṃtuṃ tadā tena svasuḥ śrutam 29| nijāyā mukhato rājanbhillena ca mahātmanā | bālāṃ tāṃ haṃtumārebhe karkaṭo bhṛśadāruṇaḥ 30| khaṅgapāṇiryadā yāti tadvadhāya sa bhillapaḥ | yāvattāvattu sā yāyājjñātvā nijavadhodyamam 31| vanamabhyadravadbhītā nijaprāṇaparīpsayā | tāmanudravatā tena karkaṭena mahīpate 32| atra gokarṇatīrthe tu gṛhītā khaṅgapāṇinā | śiraśchitvā tu khaṅgena pātayitvā jale vapuḥ 33| tasya gokarṇatīrthasya nijasthānamagācca saḥ | sā jarā tatra gokarṇe pāpāpi nidhanaṃ gatā 34| kailāsaśikhare rājanpārvatyā abhavatsakhī | ahaṃ kathitavānetattava gokarṇavaibhavam 35| śivakāṃcyāśca māhātmyaṃ pavitraṃ varṇayāmi te | iṃdraprasthataṭasthāyāṃ śivakāṃcyāmapi prabho 36| gatiḥ sā paramā puṃsāṃ gokarṇe yā mayoditā | atra śrīmanmahādevo viṣṇuṃ sarvasureśvaram 37| ārādhya bhaktarājatvaṃ lebhe jñānaṃ ca tātvikam | ataḥ sarve vayaṃ putrā brahmaṇastaṃ maheśvaram 38| ārādhayāmaḥ satataṃ sadbhaktijñānalipsayā | atra bāṇāsuro rājannārarādha maheśvaram 39| nirāhāro varṣaśataṃ tadguṇatvabubhūṣayā | tasmai prasanno bhagavāngaṇatvaṃ dattavānnijam 40| svayaṃ ca sarvadā tasya purapālo babhūvaha | iyaṃ purī purā rājannāsīdviṣṇormahātmanaḥ 41| dattā śivāya tuṣṭena tapasā tasya viṣṇunā | asyāmekaṃ purāvṛttaṃ mahadāścaryakārakam 42| viprasya śivabhaktasya vaikuṃṭhāptiryathābhavat | ekastu brāhmaṇo rājan heraṃbo nāma dhārmikaḥ 43| kāyena manasā vācā śivapūjārataḥ sadā | ekadā sa mahābhāgaḥ śivatīrthāni paryaṭan 44| śivabhaktaḥ śive rājanśivakāṃcyāmihāgataḥ | enāṃ manoharāṃ caiva na tatyāja sa buddhimān 45| paścāttatraiva tatyāja prāṇānasyā jalāṃtare | tatraiva śrīmahādevagaṇāstaṃ brāhmaṇottamam 46| nītvā kailāsamacalaṃ celustadanuśāsanāt | atha madhye samāyātā gaṇā vaikuṃṭhato hareḥ 47| tebhyo balātsamādātuṃ taṃ dvijaśreṣṭhamudyatāḥ | āsītteṣāṃ mahayuddhaṃ gaṇānāṃ hariśarvayoḥ 48| tatra yuddhena vaikeṣāṃ vijayo na parājayaḥ | tatra vaikuṃṭhato viṣṇurāgato garuḍāsanaḥ 49| kailāsādvṛṣabhārūḍho maheśaśca trilokadhṛk | tāvanyonyaṃ mukhaṃ dṛṣṭvā vihasya jagadīśvarau 50| paśyatasma mahadyuddhaṃ nabhasyeva gaṇaiḥ kṛtam | atha svīyāngaṇānviṣṇuḥ śaivāṃśca divi yuddhataḥ 51| nivārya taṃ dvijaṃ tārkṣyamāropyāgācchivālayam | śivena tadgaṇaiścāpi svakīyairapi mādhavaḥ 52| vṛto gachanpathi śrīmānstutastridaśavaṃditaḥ | gatvā viveśa taṃ cāgaṃ mahādevapuraḥsaraḥ 53| tasmai dvijāya vai tasya darśayanramaṇīyatām | atha tasmāttu kailāsānmahādevena vaṃditaḥ 54| mādhavaḥ parayā bhaktyā vaikuṃṭhamagamattadā | dvijaḥ so'pi mahābhāgastīrthasyāsya prasādataḥ 55| goviṃdadarśanaṃ prāpya mumude harasannidhau | etatte kathitaṃ rājanśivakāṃcyāstu vaibhavam 56| tīrthasaptakanāmnastu śṛṇuṣva susamāhitaḥ | tīrthametanmahārāja caturvargaphalapradam 57| darśanātsparśanāddhyānātsmaraṇādapi bhūpate | vasiṣṭhādibhiretasminmaharṣibhiranuṣṭhitam 58| mahattapastu sṛṣṭyarthaṃ tatrāsaṃstu kṣamā nṛpa | marīcirapi dharmātmā putrārthaṃ snānamācaran 59| atra lebhe mahābhāgaḥ kaśyapaṃ sutamuttamam | atriratrāpi tapasā toṣayaddevapuṃgavān 60| somaṃ durvāsasaṃ dattaṃ tebhyo lebhe sutatrayam | aṃgirā api dharmātmā tīrthasyāsya prasādataḥ 61| lebhe sutāṃstutadvaṃśyā jātā āṃgirasā dvijāḥ | pulaho'pi sutaṃ lebhe daṃbholi guṇavattaram 62| yo'gastyobhūtpurā rājaṃstīrthe'traiva nimajjanāt | pulastyasyātra tīrthe vai putro labdho tapasyataḥ 63| kuberobhūnmahābhāgo yaḥ sakhāsīdumāpateḥ | kratorapi sutā jātā vālakhilyāḥ sahasraśaḥ 64| tīrthasyāsya prasādena te sarve hyūrdhvaretasaḥ | rajaādīnsutā~ lebhe vasiṣṭho'pi mahātapāḥ 65| saptaiva rājaśārdūla mahimā tasya varṇitaḥ | anyānyapi ca tīrthāni saṃtyanekāni bhūpate 66| kapilāśramakedāraprabhāsādīni vai prabhau | niyutairapi varṣāṇāṃ teṣāṃ ca mahimā nṛpa | anaṃtenāpi no vaktuṃ śakyate kimu mādṛśaiḥ 67| saubhariruvāca- evamuktvā muniśreṣṭho nārado munipuṃgavaḥ | śivaṃ jagāma nabhaso nārāyaṇaguṇāngṛṇan 68| śibirauśīnaro rājā śakraprasthasya vaibhavam | śrutvā munimukhādrājankṛtārthaṃ svamamanyata 69| tatra snātvā hi vidhivadiṃdraprasthe sa bhūpatiḥ | vidhāya satkriyāḥ sarvā jagāma nijapattanam 70| iṃdraprasthasya māhātmyametattava mayā vibho | yamunātīratīrthasya varṇitaṃ janapāvanam 71| nāsyādaraṃ kariṣyaṃti kalau śraddhāvivarjitāḥ | iṃdraprasthasya rājeṃdra sarvatīrthaśiromaṇeḥ 72| aṣṭādaśapurāṇānāṃ śravaṇādbhāratasya ca | yatphalaṃ tanmahimnasya śakraprasthasya jāyate 73| aruṇodayavelāyāṃ māghalakṣaikamajjanāt | yatphalaṃ tanmahimnosya śravaṇācchraddhayā bhavet 74| śraddhayāsya tu māhātmyaṃ yaḥ śṛṇoti mahīpate | tarpitāstena pitaro devāśca munayastathā 75| kṛcchrātikṛcchrapārāka cāṃdrāyaṇa vratādibhiḥ | yatphalaṃ tanmahimno'sya śraddhayā śravaṇādbhavet 76| aśvamedhādiyajñānāṃ samastānāṃ mahīpate | yatphalaṃ tanmahimno'sya śraddhayā śravaṇādbhavet 77| sūta uvāca- evaṃ yudhiṣṭhiro rājā śrutvā śaunaka saubhareḥ | iṃdraprasthasya māhātmyaṃ sa yayau hastinaṃ puram 78| tato vinīya sadbhrātṝnduryodhanapuraḥsarān | iṃdraprasthamagātpuṇyaṃ rājasūyacikīrṣayā 79| dvārakāyāḥ samāgamya goviṃdaṃ kuladaivatam | rājasūyena yajñena sa iyāja mahīpatiḥ 80| muktidaṃ tīrthametattu śapatosyāpyajāyata | iti matvā haristatra śiśupālaṃ jaghāna ha 81| śiśupālo'pi tasyaiva tīrthasya maraṇādbhuvi | sāyujyamagamatkṛṣṇe nikhilārthapradāyake 82| śiśupālo hato yatra vihito yatra cakratuḥ | gadayā tatra bhīmena kṛtaṃ kuṃḍaṃ suvistaram 83| bhīmakuṃḍaṃ tu vijñātaṃ jātaṃ tadbhuvipāvanam | kāliṃdyā dakṣiṇe bhāge gavyūtyardhaṃ mahītale 84| iṃdraprasthagatāyā yatkāliṃdyāḥ snānataḥ phalam | tatphalaṃ tatra kuṃḍe tu jāyate nātra saṃśayaḥ 85| sūta uvāca- yasminkṣetre sthito jaṃtustaṃ kṣetramanuvatsaram | pradakṣiṇādibhirdharmaiḥ svāparādhānkṣamāpayatet 86| pratisaṃvatsaraṃ caiva parikrāmati yo naraḥ | kṣetrāparādhadoṣaiśca na sa lipyettu pātakaiḥ 87| pradakṣiṇamakurvāṇaḥ kṣetrasiddhiṃ na viṃdati | tasmātpradakṣiṇā tīrthe dātavyā ca phalārthibhiḥ 88| harernāma nisaṃjalpanprakaroti pradakṣiṇām | padepade sa labhate kapilādānajaṃ phalam 89| caitrakṛṣṇacaturdaśyāṃ śakraprasthapradakṣiṇām | yaḥ karoti naro dhanyaḥ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate 90| iti śrīpādmemahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāmuttarakhaṃḍe kāliṃdīmāhātmye iṃdraprasthagata kāśīgokarṇaśivakāṃcītīrthasaptaka bhīmakuṃḍavarṇanonāma dvāviṃśatyadhikadviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ 222 |
English translation
Nārada said :
1-8. O king Śibi , listen. I am describing to you the excellent, meritorious greatness of Kāśī giving success and long life. O king, formerly in the auspicious Kṛtayuga there was a tree called śiṃśapā in Kāśī situated on the slope of Indraprastha . There was a crow that had made its nest on the tree; and below it in the hollow (of the tree) lived a great serpent. Once his wife laid a couple of eggs in the nest and went somewhere. She did not come back to her nest. O king, that crow took care of the couple of eggs; lived high up on that śiṃśapā tree only. Once at night a great storm came and it broke the śiṃśapā tree from its root though strong. Then at the root of the śiṃśapā tree shattered by the storm, the crow and the serpent were crushed and died. The tree, śiṃśapā tree, (the serpent and) the crow etc. had divine bodies, and getting into three aeroplanes, went to Viṣṇu ’s abode.
Śibi said :
9. O divine sage, due to what religious merit did they reach the city giving salvation? Who were they before that? Tell (me) all that, O Nārada .
Nārada Said :
10-14. There was a brāhmaṇa named Śravaṇa in the Kurujāṅgala country. His wife was Kuṇḍā by name, and his brother was Kuraṇṭaka. That Śravaṇa ate, without having bathed (first), sweetmeats. Due to that sin he became (i.e. was born as) a village crow. His brother Kuraṇṭaka was a strong atheist. He stopped (following) the path laid down by Śrutis and Smṛtis , and censured deities. Due to that fault he became a deadly serpent after his death. Śravaṇa’s wife Kuṇḍā shared the sins of both (of them). Therefore, she got the condition of an immobile object (viz. the tree) which was resorted to by both (Śravaṇa and Kuraṇṭaka). O king, I have told you this that happened in their former existence.
15-20. Hereafter I shall tell you about their religious merit due to which they reached the charming city of the lord of the world, viz. Kāśī, O king. Once they were returning home from another village. Seeing the cow of a traveller fallen into a well and being urged by him they took her out. Hearing what they told, Kuṇḍā said: ‘Well (done).’ Due to that religious merit they met with death at Kāśī, on the slope of Indraprastha, which is difficult to have, and went up to Vaikuṇṭha . O king, I have told you this excellent greatness of Kāśī. Tell me what else you desire to hear.
Śibi said :
21-22. O sage, you mentioned three holy places of Śiva : Kāśī and Śivakāñcī , and the other (i.e. the third) one, viz. Gokarṇa . O great sage, you have told me the greatness of one viz. Kāśī, Tell me, if there is any, the greatness of Gokarṇa and Śivakāñcī.
Nārada said :
23-30. O king, Gokarṇa is a very purifying holy place of Śiva only. A man dying there would be Śiva; there is no doubt about it. If a being would die there on land, in water or in the air, he after becoming Śiva, shines on the peak of Kailāsa . One dying here at the holy place of Gokarṇa is not born again. Shining like Śiva, one obtains salvation at any time. O king, O lord, O very intelligent one, I shall describe to you the greatness of this Gokarṇa also, which I had heard from Brahmā ’s mouth. This frontier mountain of a meritorious appearance is seen near Gurutīrtha at a distance of two miles from Prayāga . On it was a very cruel bhilla named Karkaṭa . His wife was Jarā by name. She had killed (her) five husbands. That Jarā prepared a sweetmeat (mixed) with poison to kill Karkaṭa, (her) sixth husband. The noble bhilla heard about it from the mouth of his sister. That very cruel Karkaṭa set about killing that young woman.
3I-39a. When the king of the bhillas , with a sword in his hand, came to kill her, she, realising that he was ready to kill her, went (away). Being frightened and desiring (to save) her life she ran to a forest. That Karkaṭa, with a sword in his hand, seized her here at the holy place of Gokarṇa. Having cut off her head with the sword, and having dropped her body into the water of the holy place Gokarṇa, he went to his place. That sinful Jarā also met with death there at Gokarṇa. She became the friend of Pārvatī on the peak of Kailāsa. I have told you this glory of Gokarṇa. I shall describe to you the holy greatness of Śivakāñcī. O lord, the same bliss which I told (is obtained) in Gokarṇa is also obtained in Śivakāñcī situated on the slope of Indraprastha. Here god Śiva, on propitiating Viṣṇu, the lord of all gods, obtained the status of the chief devotee and metaphysical knowledge. Therefore, we all, the sons of Brahman , always propitiate him, with a desire to get good devotion and knowledge.
39b-48. O king, here the demon Bāṇa , observing a fast, propitiated Maheśvara for a hundred years with a desire to have qualities like him. The god was pleased with him and gave him the status of his attendant. And he himself became forever the protector of his city. O king, this city formerly belonged to the magnanimous Viṣṇu. Viṣṇu, pleased with the penance of Śiva, gave it to him. Here formerly a very wonderful event took place. A brāhmaṇa, a devotee of Śiva, reached Vaikuṇṭha here. O king, there was a religious brāhmaṇa by name Heramba . With his body, mind and words he was always engaged in worshipping Śiva. O king Śibi, once the noble one, Śiva’s devotee, while visiting places holy to Śiva, came here to Śivakāñcī. The intelligent one did not leave this charming (holy place). Later he died in its water. There only the attendants of Mahādeva (i.e. Śiva) took the best brāhmaṇa and proceeded to the Kailāsa mountain by his (i.e. Śiva’s) order. In the middle came the attendants of Viṣṇu from Vaikuṇṭha. They forcibly set out to take that best brāhmaṇa from them. There was a great battle between the attendants of Viṣṇu and Śiva.
49-56. In that battle none got victory or defeat. Viṣṇu, seated on Garuḍa , came there from Vaikuṇṭha. Śiva, the supporter of the three worlds, seated on his bull, also (came) there from Kailāsa. Then the two looking at each other’s face, laughed (i.e. smiled) and only watched the great battle waged by their attendants in the sky. Then Viṣṇu warded his own attendants and those of Śiva off the battle in the sky, and putting the brāhmaṇa on Garuḍa, Viṣṇu went to Śiva’s abode, surrounded by Śiva, Śiva’s attendants and his own attendants. The glorious one while going along the way was saluted by gods. Led by Śiva he entered his abode, showing the brāhmaṇa the beauty of it. Then from that Kailāsa, Viṣṇu, saluted by Śiva with great devotion went to Vaikuṇṭha. The glorious brāhmaṇa also obtained the sight of Viṣṇu due to the grace of this holy place and enjoyed in the vicinity of Viṣṇu. O king, I have told you this grandeur of Śivakāñcī.
57-64. Listen very attentively to (the holy place) named Tīrthasaptaka. O great king, this holy place gives the fruit of the four goals of human life (to one who) visits it, comes in its contact, thinks about it or even (merely) remembers it. O king, great sages like Vasiṣṭha stayed there and practised severe penance for the creation. The religious Marīci also bathed here for (getting) a son; and the glorious one obtained an excellent son, viz. Kaśyapa . Atri also pleased here the best gods by his penance, and obtained three sons from them— Soma , Durvāsas and Datta . The pious Aṅgiras also obtained, due to the favour of this holy place, sons. They, the brāhmaṇas , viz. the Āṅgirasas , were born in his family. Pulaha also got a son, Dambholi , of excellent virtues, who was, O king, Agastya in olden times. By bathing in this holy place Pulastya , practising penance, got a son, the glorious Kubera , Śiva’s friend. Kratu too had thousands of sons (called) Vālakhilyas .
65-67. Due to the favour of this holy place they were perpetual celibates. Vasiṣṭha too, practising severe penance, got seven sons, Raja and others. O best king, I have described its greatness. O king, there are many other holy places also, like Kapilāśrama, Kedāra , Prabhāsa . O king, their greatness cannot be described even by Ananta even during a million years; then how (can it be described) by (persons) like me?
Saubhari said :
68-71. Having spoken like this, Nārada, the best sage, extolling Viṣṇu’s virtues went to Śiva from the sky. O king, Auśīnara Śibi, having heard about the grandeur of Indraprastha from the sage’s mouth, regarded himself blessed. The king, having duly bathed there at Indraprastha, and having performed all auspicious rites, went to his city. O lord, I have described to you the greatness of Indraprastha, the holy place purifying people and situated on the bank of Yamunā .
72-77. O best king, in Kali (age), people, void of faith, will not have regard for this Indraprastha, the crest-jewel of all holy places. That fruit which is obtained by listening to the eighteen Purāṇas and Bhārata is produced by (listening to) the greatness of Indraprastha. That fruit which is obtained by means of a lakh of baths at dawn in the month of Māgha would be had by devoutly listening to (the description of) the greatness of this (holy place). O king, he who devoutly listens to (the description of) its greatness, would gratify his dead ancestors, gods and sages. That fruit which is had by means of the vows like Kṛcchra , Atikṛcchra, Parāka, and Cāndrāyaṇa , would be had by devoutly listening to (the description of) its greatness. O king, that fruit which is due to all sacrifices like the horse-sacrifice would be had by devoutly listening to (the description of) its greatness.
Sūta said :
78-80. King Yudhiṣṭhira having thus heard the greatness of Indraprastha from Śaunaka Saubhari , went to Hastināpura . Then having instructed his brothers led by Duryodhana , he went to the auspicious Indraprastha with a desire to perform a Rājasūya sacrifice. Having brought from Dvārakā , Kṛṣṇa , his family-deity, the king performed the Rājasūya sacrifice.
81-85. Thinking that this holy place could give salvation even to the abusive ( Śiśupāla ), Kṛṣṇa killed Śiśupāla there. Śiśupāla too, due to dying at that holy place only, got absorbed into Kṛṣṇa, giving all (desired) objects. Bhīma fashioned a very extensive pool at the place where Śiśupāla was killed, and the (Rājasūya) sacrifice was performed. Bhīma fashioned there a very extensive pool with his mace. It is known as Bhīmakuṇḍa, and has become purifying on the earth. There is no doubt that that fruit which is had by bathing in Yamunā at Indraprastha is had (by bathing) in that pool.
Sūta said :
86-90. That holy place will forgive the faults of a living being who stays there by practices like going round it for a year. The man who goes round it every year, would not be tinged with the evils (committed) at the holy place and sins. He who does not go round (it) does not get sanctification at the holy place. Therefore, those who desire a fruit should go round it. He who reciting Viṣṇu’s names goes round it, obtains at every step the fruit of presenting a brown cow. The man who goes round Indraprastha on the fourteenth day of the dark half of Caitra , is blessed, and is freed from all sins.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 15790, revision 336640 (2022-04-26T00:36:13Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365806.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.